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Date: 12/06/85 Revision: 05/14/12 Reviewed: 02/06/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCED URE Number: GEN 510.02 Page: 1 of 6 SUBJECT: TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to define guidelines for directing the movement of vehicles and pedestrian traffic. II. SCOPE: This shall apply to all law enforcement deputies. III. DISCUSSION: Traffic direction and control functions are performed to insure the safe and efficient movement of vehi cles and pedestrians. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Point Traffic Control - The physical presence of a law enforcement officer controlling vehicles and pedestrians. B. Traffic Control Devic e - Signs, signals, markings, and devices placed or erected for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic. C. Traffic Control Signal - Any device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately direc ted to stop and permitted to proceed. D. Roadblock - A barricade, either fixed or moving, which is intended to preclude thru-passage. This definition does not include the actions of a deputy who is manually directing traffic to stop where no physical bar rier or traffic control signal exists. V. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES: A. Florida law requires obedience to police and fire rescue officials. It is a misdemeanor of the second degree for any perso n to willfully fail or refuse to comply with the lawful order or directions of a duly authorized traffic control officer. B. Traffic Control and Direction Duties 1. It shall be the duty of certified law enforcement deputies to facilitate the safe flow of vehicles and pedestrians and to direct or control the movement of traffic where conditions or emergency situations require. 2. Deputies involved in traffic control or direction shall be responsible for providing information and answering citizen inquiries in a manner consistent with effective duty performance. VI. MANUA L CONTROL OF TRAFFIC: A. Criteria - Deputies shall exercise judgment in carefully weighing the necessity of effecting manual control of traffic. Factors to be considered should include, but GEN 510.02 05/14/12 Page 2 of 6 are not limited to, existing roadway congestion, adverse cond itions, emergency situations, traffic volume, traffic speed, and number of pedestrians, estimated duration of the congestion period, and manpower availability and safety. Manual control of tr affic should not be performed by a deputy when an existing traff ic control device will alleviate the traffic problem. If manual control of traffic is performed, existing automated signals should be turned off to prevent driver/pedestrian confusion. B. Equipment - When engaged in manual direction of traffic, each depu ty shall have access to a whistle, a flashlight or traffic wand, portable or mobile radio, a raincoat and hat, flares or cones, and reflective clothing consisting of a vest and gloves as issue d. The whistle is to be kept upon the person of the deputy when performing manual direction of traffic. Deputies shall wear issued reflective vest and gloves when engaged in the manual direction of traffic. An exception would be during those brief periods of time when initially effecting manual traffic direction on an emergency basis. C. Procedure 1. Position - Deputies should select a position to direct traffic which provides a full view of the intersection or incident scene and its approaches making the deputy readily visible to drivers and pedestrians and afford ing maximum safety. 2. Stance - Deputies shall assume a posture at the control position which reflects confidence, command and courtesy. 3. Command responsibility - When more than one deputy is involved in manual direction or control of traffic within the same area, the first deputy on scene shall assume the responsibility of coordinating traffic control. 4. Signals: a. Whistle Signals - Whistle signals shall be coordinated with hand signals a nd of sufficient volume as to be audible with respect to surroun ding conditions. Use one long whistle blast to command "Stop," two short whistle blasts to command "Proceed or Go," and a series of short whistle blasts to command "Attention." b. Hand Signals: (1) Stop Signal - Arm extended, hand up and palm outward pointed at approaching traffic. (2) Proceed Signal - Point at the driver or pedestrian you want to move and establish eye contact. Bend arm at elbow indicating "proceed" in the direction intende d. (3) Left Turn - Ensure conflicting traffic is stopped. Point at the driver you want to move and establish eye contact. Indicate the turn by exhibiting a proceed signal and pointing to the left turn direction. (4) Right Turn - Ensure that the turn can be made safely. Point at the driver you wish to move and establ ish eye contact. Exhibit the proceed signal and point to the right turn direction. VII. MANUAL OPERATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS: A. The determination to initiate traffic control or the use of signal devices should be based upon traffic conditions an d the limitations of the signal device. 05/14/12 GEN 510.02 Page 3 of 6 B. Point Control of Traffic - Point control of traffic in an intersection normally